Everything Dolphin: No subject is taboo, no deadlines, no space crunch.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Final rookie minicamp practice over

The rookie minicamp is over and here is the update from today's work.

Chad Henne was terrible in practice today. He struggled with his accuracy and was seemingly tired because his sideline throws had very little gas on them.

"Today, I didn't have such a great practice," Henne said afterward. "I was inconsistent with my throws."

The conditioning of these players is a serious concern -- particularly considering that it wasn't very hot this weekend. Although players believed it to be blazing hot, as Jake Long noted, it was really mild.

Yet guys were clearly winded. Coach Tony Sparano told the players they needed to get in better shape on Saturday but that wasn't the only message the team sent about being well-conditioned. The message came from the Dolphins when they signed tryout player Anthony Toribio.

Notice that GM Jeff Ireland released a quote about signing Toribio: "Anthony was here on a tryout basis and really showed to everyone what can happen to a kid when he comestocampinshape and works hard," said Ireland.

Remember that Ireland didn't release a quote when the Dolphins signed most of their veteran free agents. So yeah, it was a message.

Anyway, Jake Long is confident he improved during the three days of camp. "I got better," he said. He will return to South Florida May 16 and get settled, and hopefully start to get acclimated with the heat.

By the way, Marcel Reece continued his struggles of the weekend, dropping at least three passes today.

The Dolphins worked both the 3-4 and 4-3 set on defense.

On offense the team moved around some of the interior linemen. At one point I looked up and saw Shawn Murphy at tackle. It would not surprise if throughout training camp, coaches will move guys around so they can play alternate positions in a crunch.

Ever since the draft, I have wondered wyh Parcells dropped down in the second round, instead of picking Brian Brohm. I think he thought that the Packers would not pick a QB given that they picked Rodgers in the firts round before. I think he gambled and lost and should have picked Brohm, instead of Henne - accuracy has always been a Henne problem. Having said that, I hope to be proven wrong.

have to agree on the henne comment his pre-draft bio was not very encouraging,accuracy problems,lots of interceptions,immobile,injury concerns and so on!why take a chance on someone with so little potential?i think one of the lesser known guys like josh johnson in the latter rounds would have been more prudent!they could have drafted a shutdown corner in that spot instead.

Don't think the pick was going to be Brohm. They said over & over he would fit a west cost offense, & we are not running that type of offense, so I'm sure why you guys think he would have fit into this offense. He is a better fit with Green Bay.

MIAMI GARDENS - Sources close to Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga report that a rift between rookie first-round draft pick Jake Long and Huizenga’s co-owner, Stephen Ross, resulting from Long’s failure to acknowledge the presence of Ross at the first day of rookie mini-camp, threatens to develop into a serious showdown between the two owners and first-year football czar Bill Parcells. According to those familiar with the situation, Ross was greatly offended when Long, who played football at the University of Michigan, failed to greet Ross, a fellow Michigan alumnus who has donated tens of millions of dollars to his alma mater and who has facilities at the University’s business school and athletic department that bear his name. Friends of Ross believe that Long’s initial slight was made far worse when Long claimed to be unaware that Ross had ever done anything positive for Michigan, even after Dolphins staff had told Long about Ross’s presence at practice and his long history of donations to Long's university. After Huizenga learned of the situation, he reportedly confronted Parcells and demanded that Parcells secure Long’s apology. Parcell’s response is not yet known, but sources believe that Huizenga has called for a thorough review of the drafting process to assess how Long could have been drafted so highly while lacking common sense. It is unknown whether Parcells’ recent decision to relieve several Dolphin scouts of their duties resulted from their involvement in Long’s selection. Many lower level club employees fear that the worsening situation between Ross and Long may become a distraction to the team’s rebuilding.- - -

Henne is not yet back in football shape. i initially wanted brohm but hes a duplicate of beck so jhe didnt make much sense. The players have to get acclimated to the heat and back in football game shape. i see foster and lyman making team with reece and bess long shot. If i were hagans id have a good camp as i think hes on the bubble too. From reading ur blog armando if i were an incimbent def lineman id be concened about job security, and the same for off reserves line.

I can't believe any owner would be offended by a rookie not acknowledging them. These are kids that probably don't even know who Ross is. I believe this is just some reporter stiring things up to make a story of nothing.

Guys the personal attacks om Armando are childish and are starting to get extremely old. He is just reporting what he knows and what he observes. At this point you have two options either read the blog and don't comment or just stay the hell out of here and go watch NASCAR.

It seems this entire Long-Ross controversy has been contrived to deflect attention from Chad Henne's abysmal performance today at mini-camp. The fact that Henne is a bust should be the number one topic of discussion on this board, not some silly internet rumor about Ross & Long. There is no accountability in Davie - - who will take the fall for the Henne debacle??

In all fairness, what does that tell you about how smart Long is. The guy (ROSS)has a business school at Michigan named after him. Apparently Long has never had to step foot in a classroom while at Michigan.

Steve--right! When I first heard about this situation I was struck first of all by Long's ignorance about major components of his own university, and also his lack of curiosity. You would think that someone of even average intelligence would ask his agent, who had been negotiating with the Dolphins for a week or so prior to draft, something along the lines of "Gee, so who'll be signing my paycheck, anyway?" or "so who are these guys Huizenga & Ross?" Any hint of a Michigan connection should have triggered more questions, even you buy into the Mad Dog style hype about the Michigan brotherhood. Not to mention that most of us, if we were about to get rich, would google the names of the guys making us rich just for grins.

Okay you guys forced me to look at packers sites to see comments re qbs brohm and flynn in mini camp. The packers coach spent most time talking re undrafted rb named beavers and a directional punter competing with incumbent punter. He said the qbs had much to learn from playbook. Bottom line wait until all qbs and players in camp before making any decision on henne. Watch the game tape where he torched gators.

armando was looking forward to hear you discuss fins on the ticket but no armando. No one gives a rats ass re thr marlins or worse nba dullball but the hosts on the ticket continue to bore. give us ur schedule re radio. Call me nutsy but i think the fins this yr will be a successful running team with a nasty physical offensive line

1.I think he was saying that he didnt say "Chad Henne is going to stink the remainder of his short, sad career." 2. For the guy that keeps trashing Mondo with racial slurs - If you dont like Mondo why come to his website you racist piece of crap hiding behind your anonymous name... I think your Omar Kelly and jealous of Mondo. Why all the hatin Omar?

Hey Mondo dont take that crap from this/ these racists idiots. No real Dolphins fan would trash a brother like that. These are the acts of a Jets fan. Waz up jets fan go back to your own web site! By the way like is spelled "like" not "liek". Stupid like a COWARDLY JETS fan also...

Go back to Cuba? Cubans brought Cuba to Miami assholes. Or haven't you noticed, the mayor is Cuban, the senator is cuban, the congressmen are cuban, the sportswriter is cuban, the food is cuban, the cigars are cuban, the music is cuban.

Now which is it? Some said "Mando go back to Cuba" and another said "Mando go back to Mexico". These are two different countries. I guess these are stupid questions from dumb rednecks, what do you expect.

Even though the Long/Ross story is a fabrication, it is curious to me that the "Number One Pick", not to mention the rest of the players, was not introduced to the owners of the team, and anyone else who mattered. I would think it would be up to Ireland to arrange an introduction meeting, and the lack of one reveals some short comings of his.

Just like a cuban thinking they invented Miami.. That is why the place is a h*ll hole now. Nobody likes Cubans except Cuban people. It is sad when even other latin cultures bash your people for the disgusting ignorant pieces of garbage YOU are. The only thing your people did is ruin what was once a beautiful vivrant city. You tarnished everything that was pure and beautiful about Miami and turned it into a spanish garbage heap. An American person can't even go and buy a sandwich because you retards decided not to learn english when you came to MY country. You cry and b*tch and moan about the oppression your family members suffer back home at then hand of Castro, but all you did was run like cowards and left your family to burn in h*ll. Have fun in your second h*ll hole cubans. You can have Miami, you will slowly die in that trash hole like the city you killed. Enjoy your music, cigars and bread!!! Your spanish woman are the only thing you ever created worth anything. They rot over time too.. After a couple years they fatten up like the greasy pork you disgusting heathens slobber all over. Have another one! Viva Castro! Gracias!!

LOL, finfans, the comments in ref to Henne need to be taken in stride. He had a bad practice. Big deal. It's mini camp. Who hasn't? Better to have a bad day in practice than at gametime. Also, name me a Hall of Famer that hasn't had a bad gameday? These practices are meant to work out bugs, understand the schemes, know your teammates good/bads. Just because you cut your finger doesn't mean you need to cut off your hand. Mellow out guys. These boys are going to do fine. I'm already putting money down that we're going to win 7-8 games this year if not more. Have faith!

Mr. Salguero, i must say that you came up big during this first minicamp, I think you understood why we were complaining about how you were doing your job last week, but as much as I’ve criticized you for bashing the Dolphins, I have to say that you’ve done a very good job this weekend, I hope you keep up with the good stuff – “No Matter What I’m a Dolfan”

When we play the 3-4, will Taylor line up as a LB being that we have bigger lineman that we drafed who are more of the prototypical 3-4 outsiderushers? And on passing downs are we going to see those rookies, who are bigger, lineup on the inside like the Giants did with Tuck?

When we line up in a 3-4 are we going to see Taylor in the Lb position a lot and the bigger rookies (Merling and Langdon) come off the edges since they are more of the prototypical 3-4 lineman? And on passing downs will we see Merling and Langdon lining up on the inside along with Taylor and Porter on the outside to create more of a rush, kind of like the Giants with Tuck?

This is a football blog....as a Southern (Tennessee), Nascar, Dolphins fan (x 30+ yrs), it sickens me to see these bigoted quotes. I tune into this blog to get info on a team that I have rooted for since the mid-70's. Any coward who spews hatered should be band from this blog; any quote not pertaining to the dolphins should be deleted. To discuss the finer points of MINI-CAMP (as silly as it may seem to non-football fans) is what this site is intended. To use it as a platform for anonymous (gutless) slurs is sad. Tagging Hennie (or any other player) a bust following a 3-day minicamp would be greatly premature. Basically, this is a way for the coaches to see where the new recruits are in their training and comprehesion. Nothing moe, nothing less. Take a deep breath!

I read a n article on si.com that stated Henne did have a bad day but gave a REASON...such as he had to learn 150 plays in 4 days and then acclimate them to the field while throwing to rookie WR's he has no chemistry with. Sounds like far from being a bust.He is a QB that just made a jump from the Big Ten to the NFL.

Even if he was dead-eye accurate and didn't miss any snap-counts-it still wouldn't make him the next Dan marino either. Give hte kid a break!!

cb scorpio babers 4.3 and lb keith saunders signed. lb abraham wright a draft choice last yr waived with wr reese, as parcells noticed the dropped balls. also purdue cb lane cut. i like this new staff and parcells snubbing jt was great. If taylor wants to sip wine with the denzel washingtons of the world, then retire. Heres a great quest can jt act lol

Also waived derrick robinson who i never heard of. Armando and fellow bloggers who do u think on the team last yr wont survive. Im thinking last yrs 4th rd tony solari and barfighting but football underachieving matt roth could be on that greyhound out of town. dropped ball hagans also on my list. I hope parcells has put the fear of god into last years losers on the roster

As a long time Michigan fan and Florida native I have watched Henne his entire college career. I was am not really a Dolphin fan but I think he will develop into a great NFL QB. I watched every game he played in both good and bad. I was at the Capital One bowl to watch him lead his team past the so called "mighty gators" I have watched that game on DVD and he made great throws of course he has come great receivers helping him. But to say the kid will be a bust before he takes a snap in the NFL is crazy.. Can any of you say you saw every game he played? You have no idea the great leader you are getting.

About this blog

Armando Salguero has covered South Florida sports for 25 years, starting as a 19-year-old in 1982. He's covered the Dolphins since 1990 and hosts a Dolphins hour show every weeknight 7-8 on 790 TheTicket (790theticket.com). He has worked nationally for ESPN and also writes sports columns for The Miami Herald.